The hour of departure draws closer for veteran ex-Jardine Fleming banker, Mark Graham and top headhunter, James Darcy as they ready to set off on March 11 for the London to Sydney air race.

The flamboyant pair have just had their plane, Spirit of Kai Tak repainted see pictures below. The bookies say this fine machine, which is principally sponsored by Cathay Pacific, has a good chance of winning the race.

And as coincidence will have it, Cathays own jet and Spirit of Kai Tak will meet up in Delhi. Cathay, which has long been lobbying to fly the Hong Kong-Delhi route, will finally start flying to the Indian capital on...